What is electrical and computer systems engineering?

This rapidly evolving field works with new technologies and techniques every day. You might design products such as smart phones, virtual reality systems or video games. You might develop tools to repair diseased organs such as prosthetic and cochlear implants. Or maybe robotic medical devices to assist in surgery and rehabilitation.

What do electrical and computer systems engineers do?

This branch of engineering covers many specialist roles.

Automation and control engineers design, build and operate automatic systems that control our water supply, chemical plants, oil refineries, medical equipment, mines and traffic control systems.

Biomedical engineers develop new tools to diagnose disease and repair or replace organs such as pacemakers, cochlear implants, prosthetic implants and life support systems.

Power generation and distribution engineers provide a safe electricity supply network for our everyday needs. They design power systems for aircraft and spacecraft and design and build solar panels and wind-powered generators.

Robotics engineers design and program systems that perform functions associated with human intelligence such as voice recognition.

Telecommunications, communications and signal processing engineers design systems and equipment to make information transmission faster, more accurate, more reliable and efficient.

Careers in electrical and computer systems engineering

As an electrical and computer systems engineer you could work locally or internationally in a wide range of industries including:

Power generation

Industrial and power electronics

Automation systems

Computer programming

Robotics

Health care

Water and energy.

Many graduates also work in large public and private telecommunications, manufacturing and electrical power companies. Others work for defence and intelligence organisations.

You will also be prepared for careers in other industries such as online ticketing, banking and finance - or any organisation that needs to create, store, encode and transmit data or manage complex systems.

Australia is a signatory to the Washington Accord, which means Monash Engineering graduates can work in any other signatory country, without the need to re-qualify. You’ll find more information in the University Handbook.